Intro Log: May

[moustre]

Intro Log: May, Game Start

I. ARRIVAL Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. Besides the new arrivals, however, there's one more person in the building, and only one. A young teen stands; previously bored and mulish, he's now owl-eyed and slackjawed as he takes in each arrival, either from the mirrors or coming from another floor as you try to get your bearings. In his hands he's clutching a broom like a security blanket, until - "M... Miss Nessie! Miss Nessie, something's happened!" he yells, as he drops the broom and turns tail out of the building. Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is clear, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, regardless of their waning crescent phases. Follow, or explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in? The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. "MISS NESSIE" Whether you've decided to follow the hapless young man, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion. The woman covers her mouth with a soft "Oh my!" as she surveys those who begin to crowd in, and she turns to the werewolf (?), lowering her hand once more. (The handful of others who'd come with her peer as best they can from a ways behind her with unconcealed curiosity, closer to the door out than not. The boy previously seen before he ran off can be spotted at the very back of the group.) "This is right unexpected, isn't it?" She not-quite whispers, delight and confusion in equal measure in her voice. Her companion makes a quiet noise in her throat, unscarred eye narrowed - it's hard to tell if that delight is one shared by both parties. "Well, they've always said the veil is thinner during Boaltinn... We'll have to talk to James and see if he was doing anything other than cleaning, we will, but for now, we've got a full house to attend to, don't we? Ah, if they're all Witches, that'll be something, it will!" Without wasting another beat - much to the fond irritation of her companion, certainly - the woman turns back to the newcomers of Aefenglom, clapping her hands together in glee. "Well then! I'm certain you all have many, many questions... As do we! First thing's first, though, first thing's first! I am Nerissa Bell, the Head Witch of the Coven - that's where this house is located right now, on Coven grounds - and this is my Bonded, Mhairi Ainsley. Don't worry, she's a right softie despite her looks! You can simply call me Miss Nessie - everyone does, short of those stuffy folks up in the Parliament, but, well, that's just how things are with them, I suppose." She pauses a beat, for breath, before continuing with a wave of her hand; dozens of chairs and stools, all surprisingly comfortable despite their wooden looks, are conjured in an instant, and Nessie smiles wide as she gives a small bow. "Take a seat, and let's get familiar with one another for a spell! The city'll celebrate without us one way or another, and we've already finished our business for tonight anyway. Isn't that right, Mhairi dear?" Despite the onslaught of information and excitement at three in the morning, Mhairi inclines her head slightly after a huge sigh; her voice is likely exactly as expected, low and akin to a growl. "Best to take advantage of the distraction. Let's begin, before I have to report this to Parliament." NOTE: If you wish to interact with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. You have the option of handwaving the IC interaction to OOCly ask what questions your character might have for them, for us to summarize an answer for, or you can request an IC thread. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly.

III. THE COVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, a solution is presented. Though they certainly can't answer every question, Nerissa and Mhairi promise to help find the answers, and open the doors of the Coven to all new arrivals in the Looking-Glass House. The walk from the quaint cottage to the imposing structure ahead is lit only by magic provided by Miss Nessie and the Witches accompanying her, as well as the path of stepping stones coming aglow with each step that's taken across them. Beyond the courtyard, with its high, opalescent walls, a city can be seen. There are torches accompanying the flickering light posts outside, and the sounds of life clear even this far from the heart of Aefenglom, something that sounds like... merriment? Festivities are in full swing, even this close to dawn. The rest of the world continues on, even though you've arrived, confused and perhaps missing a few aspects of your usual persons. But while they certainly weren't expecting to spend the festival like this, the Coven has worked as quickly as it can. Their doors, decorated in cowslip flowers, are wide open - welcoming to the public, and to new arrivals as well. The Coven's main building has a surprisingly large front room, compared to its outside; the ceiling stretches ever onward, with stairs of the solidly-flush-against-the-wall variety and floating-ethereally-in-the-middle-of-things variety both. Magic and mundane intermingle as if meant to, with brooms inscribed with runes to clean making quick work of dirt and dust, shadowy figures opening and closing doors as people enter and exit, plates of snacks drifting around as if carried by invisible servers. The brooms are especially attentive to the door as new arrivals step in - they don't apologize for knocking into anyone, and really, anyone particularly scruffy will get swept at until the brooms are satisfied. None of this seems to mind the Witches coming in, with small murmurs of gratitude given to the busybody brooms instead of reprimands. Doors lead this way and that, on higher floors and on the ground floor, but runes glow by their frames in indecipherable patterns. Peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid to test them out when they can, and Nessie waits for things to calm before she steps up the floating stairs and addresses the room. "We'll see to it you all have lodgings for a bit, we will, but for now, the festival's still going on - if you couldn't tell!" She laughs a little, hands on her hips. "There's nothing we can do about things right now, so you might as well enjoy yourselves, you might. If any of you want to stay in 'til morning though, well, we can provide - just mind your manners, magic's real particular about them. At least," she winks, head tilting with the motion, "that's how I teach all my classes, it is." Those deciding to stay will be lead to doors that seem to follow no real pattern by native Witches; the rule is "two to a bed," so get cozy with the person next to you. They're the ones you'll be sleeping with tonight. The beds aren't too small - enough to accommodate at least three humans - and they're fairly comfortable too, for their old-looking age.

IV. BOALTINN For those who journey out into the city, they'll be sent off with a word of warning to keep out of trouble from Mhairi, to find everything still quite lively - and still quite unaware of what's taken place. There's very little left to the shadows, with dim light filling in the gaps between the flickering streetlamps and the extra candles and such people have put up themselves. Curiously, small bonfires seem to follow a pattern, culminating into a wide plaza in the center of the Residential District where a larger, brighter one burns, with people dancing around it, their clothing jingling softly with little bells hanging from their hems. The same is mirrored on the direct other side of the city - the only difference is in who's dancing. The Eastern Bonfire has more visibly humanoid beings enjoying themselves, while the Western Bonfire has creatures more monstrous in looks. Regardless, they all seem to be happy- And the reason is this: Boaltinn, a festival lasting the next two dusks. The nights and early mornings are filled with flickering firelight, while the morning and daytime have all but the small fires leading the way to the giant bonfires extinguished; the bonfires, however, stay lit. - and in general, it seems the city is quite happy, quite cheerful, and quite close. a. The Bonfires The main attraction of Boaltinn, as they are with any fire festival, the bonfires on each side of the city are tended to by various Monsters every hour of the day. While much of the scenes are similar - there's plenty of food to be shared, with those partaking in it cowed into sitting with someone else regardless of how familiar they might be, and children of all kinds play together and invite those sitting or watching to come too, in all manner of games, such as jacks, hopscotch, and running ribbons around the tall poles at the bonfires. But there are marked differences, too. The Eastern Bonfire primarily has humans or those that can pass as humanoid in attendance, and they're much friendlier to those who look similar to them; to those that look a little more monster-like, though, their replies are far more curt and their shoulders colder. The area around the bonfire is also littered with trinkets and baubles, all shiny and new and utterly forgotten by their playmates; the ribbon poles are similarly new, made professionally as if by commission. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. Meanwhile, the Western Bonfire has primarily those who are more monstrous in looks, and they're similarly friendlier to those who resemble them, with a similar brusque and cold manner to those who look more human. The area around the bonfire is carefully kept clean, however, and the ribbon poles look handcrafted from lumber and grass, with tightly-woven knots and clumsily-made paper decorations. Those attending here are also invited to jump through the flames, but no such protection is offered; it's simply assumed that, as a Monster, you're likely much better at handling a little fire. b. A Little Entertainment It isn't only the bonfire celebrations that one can participate in, however. All throughout both the East and West Residential Districts, as well as a portion of the Shopping and Entertainment Districts, there's a number of stalls, stands, and stores available for perusal. Take a gander at the rest of the city and find something to do. Of note: Divination readings are available in various stalls, set up by Coven-official Witches as well as homegrown ones, with tarot cards that vary from pristine art pieces that one would almost hesitate to touch to the personally drawn and cut. They offer free readings, enticing all who pass by to join them at their table. Good or bad, the cards seem to bring with them lessons and words of wisdom, interpreted expertly by those handling them... or as expertly as possible; some readings seem a little unsure and muddy. Regardless of belief, those who take part in these readings will suddenly find their day going either exceptionally well or incredibly poor, depending on the overall feel of their reading. Carts and booths are available for one to partake in more food, however there's a stipulation to taking anything from these vendors: one must share this food with others, either in pairs or a group. While relations between humans and beasts seem to be a little frosty, they can be seen intermingling a tad more freely when it comes to this portion of the celebrations, sharing the treats and small meals that are being offered to everyone. The food available all seem to be those easy to hold in hand, not unlike modern-day food trucks; of note, the thin pancake wraps seem to be the most popular, with a bubbly drink similar to a milkshake filled to the brim with drinking straws for best sharing experience coming in second. Flavors are plentiful and varied, though they err closer to the fruits, vegetables, and spices side of the spectrum. Finally, the more pleasure-based businesses offer the chance to relax one's weary feet and take a chance with a little aromatherapy with their rose baths. While traditionally this had its roots in imbuing the bather with good tidings and blessings for the upcoming seasons (or so they'll say when asked), nowadays, it's simply become a luxury treatment for those needing a little TLC. The waters here do have the added bonus of making those who share them friendlier and more talkative with their partner(s) - and yes, all baths are a shared experience. Rather than being split by sex, baths are split by monster and human; co-ed bathing exists for those who don't mind mingling with the opposite species, and if really pressed, they can offer separate baths for different sexes, but their focus seems elsewhere. c. Impulsive Compulsion Throughout the whole festival, new arrivals, particularly those with magic talent gifted to them by the world, will feel like they can do anything and will push themselves to the limit. While not inherently detrimental, those who feel it will become more reckless, their inhibitions lessened and impulses heightened; trying new things is easy as pie, with any thoughts of fear left far in the back of their minds. While magic is highly discouraged on festival days, given their rest day quality, those under the spell of Boaltinn's madness will feel the temptation to try some anyway, regardless of knowing the proper way of performing it - perhaps it's about time to try out what one discovered in that strange dream... Those found doing magic will get a firm scolding, but no actual punishment; it's only looked down on, and they'll be cautioned against using too much. If any property damage occurs due to reckless magic use, however, there are fines; those without any money to their name can be recruited to pay it off by working at the buildings and stalls they may have accidentally damaged, serving people, looks, or whatever else the business might offer.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up now as well! While technically most of them won't start until after festivities, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the May Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[holybeasts]

[Oh! Maria hadn't expected the arm and can't help but jerk a wide-eyed look over to Iramaat herself, brows raised and expression surprised.]

Maria Renard.

[Then her brow furrows as well. Hm. How odd.]

You do look... familiar?

[Maybe? Their current stance of being linked arm in arm seems desperately familiar.]

[immortalrose]

Sleeping around with random strangers doesn't qualify as romance.

[He grumbles under his breath. Try as he might to seem as grumpy as he pretends to be, Augustine isn't really upset. There's ample enough space between him and his annoying bed mate. More than enough, actually. Still this is rather indecent, isn't it?]

Oh shut it! [Augustine snaps as he reaches for a pillow to toss at her.] I'm not about to tell you my real name, understood?

[He settles back down into the mattress again with a sigh.]

Besides, I was known by that name for quite awhile.

Pearson Langford | OC

[spiritwrangler]

I. Arrival
One moment, Pierce was in a hotel room about to step out the door, when the old mirror hung on the wall caught his attention. All he'd done was just touch the thing, and then he went through it instead, stumbling forward into the dusty room. Almost immediately the drops the small travel bag he's carrying with him, looking around in a stunned silence before turning to take in the mirror he just stepped through.

That the mirror looks damn well hand-carved to show off his life already sends a shiver up his spine, but then Pierce catches sight of Emma's face. She's up near the top of the mirror's frame, expression serene, her arms lifted up towards a carving of a sun. Shocked to his core, Pierce runs his fingers over the carving before closing his hand into a fist, flat-out slamming it against the glass of the mirror.

"Open up! Open up, or by God or you're gonna be sorry!" There's no change in the mirror, of course, and thankfully Pierce isn't hitting it nearly hard enough to damage the surface.

III. The Coven
Pierce sat oddly quiet all through the question-and-answer session with Miss Nessie and her werewolf companion. The last thing he'd expected was to see a werewolf acting civilized, but that was a damn sight better than the alternative. It's even more startling to see the rest of it, evidence of magic just about everywhere you looked in the Coven's main building. Pierce takes his hat off as they enter into the larger building, just in time to get brushed down by virtue of one of the brooms taking offense to the trail dust lingering on his coat. Muttering some mild curses under his breath, Pierce tries to scramble past it only to nearly get tripped up. That broom doesn't leave him be for another good minute.

After they're given the watch devices, Pierce spends a good while looking at his, glancing up every now and then to look almost nervously around the room. When the offer comes to stay overnight there, Pierce doesn't follow the others being lead away to their rooms. It's a nice offer, but the idea of sleeping in a place like this doesn't sit well with him. Of course given that there's little other choice for the newcomers, Pierce will be forced to return and find a bed in a few hours, at which point he'll have to deal with sharing a bed just like everyone else.
(tl;dr I'll take threads for sharing a bed set later in the morning!)

IV. Boaltinn
A. Bonfires
Though Pierce has stopped near the Eastern bonfire for a moment, he's not trying to partake in the festivities here. He's a little too old to go jumping through bonfires, even though he's picked up a bracelet with fire-protection runes etched into it, examining it with obvious curiosity.

No, Pierce came out here mostly to have a place to smoke in peace. He lit up a cigarette as soon as he got there, and he chain-smokes the next one with hardly a pause. He's not even thinking about the need to conserve his tobacco for later, at least not yet. This whole experience already has him jumping at shadows, and he's using this time to himself to try to calm himself down and clear his head a bit.

B. Entertainment
This place was starting to look a little like he'd ended up in Europe, and the lady earlier had mentioned a Parliament - but Pierce has only seen pictures of Europe as drawings in the newspapers, and he's pretty sure they didn't have monster-people just casually walking around overseas. Pierce is notably jumpy, particularly when approached by monsters; he's going out of his way to avoid them even more than the native humans are.

Now, Pierce is standing a bit awkwardly near one of the food stalls. He already tried offering cash for the food and was promptly turned down and given an explanation of the tradition. It's plenty strange, but he's getting a little too hungry to argue. If you're not obviously non-human, you might get Pierce trying to catch your eye and motion you over.

v, a, quest 1

[haillenarte]

[francel's been watching his coworker for a while — nothing weird, just the occasional glance as they're both passing through the shelves, so he's seen enough to notice that izuku isn't tall enough to place some of the books he's been assigned. when izuku stops short and starts reading one of the books he's supposed to be putting away, though, francel figures that he might as well step in.

calmly, the young elezen finishes his own assigned books, then steps closer, towering over izuku as he takes up one of the books from the boy's pile.]

Pray allow me.

[without further ado, francel starts putting the books in their proper places on the top shelf. he... well, at least he does it with ease.]

[fearolc]

[ Straightening back up, Mhairi fixes her vest with a firm tug, licking her chops to wet her mouth again after holding it open. ]

We're perhaps the most common variety of Monster that currently inhabits Geargadas, though Aefenglom certainly, with a great deal of variety.

[moustre]

What a polite boy! Nessie already likes him.

1) They'll agree it's a weird dream - the Fae aren't so plentiful, even in a mixing pot like Aefenglom, and there's certainly never been any sort of "meeting" either of them can remember. The information is interesting, especially the bit about recognizing some of the people gathered, but neither can think of anything it means. Though, Nessie suggests, it might've been something like a premonition. The best diviners claim to have them, though she can't confirm that herself; she studied healing magic, not divination, and Mhairi's a Turnskin - she can't use magic at all.

On the topic of divination, though, dreamwalking was rumored to be a skill of the most experienced practitioners of the magic - but neither of them can think of any recent diviners who've done that either. With Nessie being the head of this branch too, it's unthinkable that she wouldn't know if someone had managed such a thing.

2) That's a bit of a loaded question, but Nessie will eventually explain gently that Monsters and regular humans have only recently started getting along, at least compared to the rest of their history together. Things are much better than they were before, but both sides still have natural reservations about each other - outside of the Coven. The Coven, she continues in a much stronger voice, doesn't tolerate intolerance within its walls, especially given how important humans and Monsters are to each other.

3) If he's not feeling well, they'll suggest he stay in the Coven's clinic for a while so they can keep an eye on him. It's a bit strange for magic to not be working - actually, short of it being sealed or taken away, there's no reason it shouldn't work. Even Witches from outside of Aefenglom are able to use their magic as natural as breathing in the city. Regardless: he can stay in the Coven's clinic proper until he feels a little better, or he could try bunking with someone else; physical contact's said to help with health.

[wylderrant]

Iramaat tips Nessie a broad wink and then mimes zipping her lips closed, "Your secret is safe with me. Won't tell a soul."

That said, she settles in to listen. She's a very attentive listener and she likes what she hears as more of the story comes out. In fact, her eyes seem to light up as she hears more. This is the sort of thing she enjoys hearing about. This is the sort of thing she gets involved in. A world in danger? They need more bodies, more minds to help them? Well, they really only need her - or her leading the charge, anyway. She lifts a hand and touches her own chest with a firm nod.

"Well, hearing that... I can't in good conscience just slip off home, can I? You need help - and I am happy to offer it! Allow me to introduce myself - where are my manners? I am Iramaat, Knight of the Golden Apple-"

So saying, she dips into a courtly bow, one hand raised in a swirling, elaborate little gesture.

"I wouldn't call myself a monster, but... I'm not sure how you define such things here."

[wylderrant]

Maria...

[ Iramaat frowns. The name seems familiar and it takes her a long moment to recall the half-forgotten memory of a dance. Her face lights up after a moment. ]

Oh! I think I remember you! I'm Iramaat. I think - we were at a party, weren't we?

[wylderrant]

Hardly strangers. I get to know my lovers and I care for all of them deeply.

[ For a time, anyway. Until she gets bored. ]

I didn't say it was a false name, but thank you for telling me so. I'll keep it in mind.

[ She grins broadly, almost too broadly, exposing beautiful white teeth. ]

I really do think it's a lovely name. No lie. And it does suit you and your... looks.

[andernach]

She's used to curt but polite people - look at her big softie sweetheart, she's always curt! - so she's not too hurt by his questions or tone, and answers him as amicably as she does anyone else.

Firstly, she doesn't see why he wouldn't be seen; he's human too, isn't he? He looks the part, very fancy dress and pretty hair aside, and he doesn't seem to have any sort of invisibility charm on him. Regardless, Geargadas is a place made of magic - if he's not usually able to be seen, well, maybe the reason lies there instead.

As for innate magic, all magic is innate here! Even the most ordinary citizen has a spell or two in them. Well, a whole family of spells, like little packrats. She came from that type, she did. Regardless, if he's feeling a little off, it might just be the teleportation chills. She doesn't tend to get them herself, but she's heard people not using to teleporting places feel a bit out of sorts afterwards. She's almost certain he'll feel better with a little rest and adjustment, she does.

This isn't the first time she's heard about this dream business - she'll motion to a few others who've mentioned it too - but a different kind of magic... It could be he'd simply been dreaming about specializing in something new. She's done the same thing, about being an enchanter instead of a healer, but laughs and says she'd be a terrible enchanter. She'd prank the pants off of everyone in the Coven! No one wants that.

Wherever he's from, she's certain it's fine - she can't imagine how sleeping could help the world when the world's already in trouble because they've simply been sleeping on the problem itself, honestly. She'll explain the trouble with the Cwyld and Geargadas a little as well, her mood a little less bright during it, though she forces a more cheerful smile and laugh at his gratitude. Nessie suggests he simply try teleporting back the way he teleported here, since that's the only way she figures they all appeared in a big lump sum like this - and if he can't, then it might be worth investigating.

[bombingking]

Deku!

[He snarls, actually sort of snarls in a way that sort of surprises even him, and pulls his hand away. He takes a sharp but steadying breath.

How is Deku always just... there! There being his shitty annoying concerned self.]

Go bother someone else, you fucking nerd!

petrana de lamorraine | original character | fae

[ipseite]

coven.

( in the ambient chaos of new arrivals, petrana doesn't much stand out initially; slight, pale in a drawn sort of a way, a lingering hugeness about the eyes that speaks to shock that hasn't set in firmly enough to turn to outrage or, for that matter, speech. with her gloves clenched in one hand, she keeps her back straight and tries to flinch less obviously when she's jostled—her effort to preserve her personal space somewhat aided by the voluminous nature of her skirts, thick violet velvet that her free hand clutches to twitch out of the dust and away from strange feet—alone in a sea of strangers likewise lost, it is an effort also not to be bothersome.

to not draw attention, to not be visibly vexed, to not add her voice to any cacophony of frustration. she will learn more being patient. she will learn more steadying herself and listening, and if it so happens that that dovetails neatly with having simply no notion of what else to do in so alien a circumstance, then that is doubtless between herself and god.

but when the short walk reaches the coven, something other than mute anxiety breaks through her brittle stoicism and she can't quite help but be enchanted. by enchantments—

she minds her manners very well, but she is fascinated by the magic on display, and by the simple fact of its display. the watch in her hands is a strange device quickly forgotten (tucked between her gloves and held loosely at her side) in favour of studying more familiar curiosities, tolerating the brooms' attention in order to better study the runes inscribed on them. )

boaltinn | bonfires.

( it had not taken more than one cool rebuff for petrana to grasp that her presence is not, presently, desired at the western bonfire, but standing at the edge of the eastern gathering she is still more inclined to turn her head and watch—

which is most impolite, and on a less trying day she would not have to remind herself quite so many times. she would like to go over there, and speak with those people, who are so unlike anything that she's seen, who might have once lived in sulleciel but not any more. only they are not curiosities, and she hasn't the authority to expect them to indulge her regardless, and she has the good sense not to create a fuss. the festivities themselves are still worth witnessing, she supposes, and though she doesn't especially wish to leap through fire she does want one of those runes to examine, and she does have a better run-and-leap than might be expected—

she takes her shoes off, first, and there's something slightly comical about this pristinely attired little princess tilting her head this way and that before she takes her run up at the flames. without the rune, her skirts would almost certainly burn, but all the same: it is immediately apparent she is, perhaps, a little more athletic than she looks at first glance as she lands catfooted on the other side. )

wildcard.

( absolutely feel free to hit me up with something else, and you can ping me at keanuleaves or pm this journal if you want to brainstorm/hash out a good hook! )

[fifty]

[Those sure are places he's never heard of! Not that America is great at geography, but he's sure he'd have heard about a place with monsters.] Okay, so like... Where I'm from? Monsters aren't real.

[ipseite]

handwaverily, petrana would like to (quietly) ask for medical attention as she's concerned she might be knocked up (she isn't; she's ~late~ for other reasons of stress and physical strain making her irregular, she'll be fine if she ever eats or sleeps normally again).

[fearolc]

Much like Nessie is unfazed by curt interactions, Mhairi is particularly desensitized to any gruffness. Eren will be met with firm patience, though understanding.

- After having spoken to other individuals like him who have a need to go back, they'll suggest trying to go back the way he came in, as they weren't the ones who called them there. If that doesn't work, they both reassure him that they'll put the very best in the Coven on figuring something out as soon as they can, though there'll be a suggestion that perhaps he stay in the Coven's clinic for a bit if he specifically expresses that he's got a ticking clock like that. They can do their best to try and stop the clock for him, as it were, even if it's only temporary. (Though his arrival in Aefenglom means that the clock has already been stopped, they won't be able to learn this without a great deal of examination.)

- They'll give a very similar answer that they gave to Steven in regards to the dreams in general, although his explanation of being a beast gives them pause. Mhairi explains that there's only one Monster in Geargadas that fits his description, in all fields, and tells him that they're called Dragons. Whether it was real or not is a question that they can't answer, but the more they learn, the more they're interested in getting to the bottom of it for everyone.

- This question in particular is one that Mhairi answers directly. She tells him she's not sure what he means by a single unit, but does explain the current state of Aefenglom's general military. What remains of the army is currently inactive in its original role, due to the ineffectiveness of non-magicked weaponry against the Cwyld (that she will explain, as well, as a plague that it infects humans and Monsters just as much as it does the world itself). Most soldiers are currently ordered by Parliament to protect the Wall and outlying settlements, but are not as unified as they once were. Naval forces are relegated to protecting the bay and coastline near Aefenglom more than they are looking to face off against a non-Cwyld threat.

Steven Universe | Fae | OTA

[starseedling]

★THE COVEN: ARRIVAL

He'd been on the sandy shore, with the moon shining overhead. It hadn't been long since everything changed in Beach City, and on Homeworld. Things had just barely begun to slow down, to return to normalcy, and he was taking some private time to cuddle up with Lion and add to the song he'd been composing. Then, something in the water catches his eye. He goes to look. Lion follows after.

Then, he was here. Lion, his fully grown male lion companion with impossibly pink fur, is there with him. A lot of things happen at once.

Steven's head spins as he stares back at the mirror he just came through, dully taking in the details of its frame. He feels all turned around inside, hollowed out and weary, and it's familiar in all the wrong ways. Lion, for his part, feels fine - he's just a huge animal who's just been shoved into a room filled with strangers, whose master is suddenly radiating anxious energy.

That said, before Steven can fully take in what's happening, Lion is approaching whichever poor schmuck is nearest and growling at them. He's usually pretty lazy and chill, but if anything warrants a defensive reaction, it's this. Say hello to this huge startled animal, he doesn't look happy to see you.

★BOALTINN: THROUGH THE CITY ON A LION NAMED LION

Despite feeling terrible, Steven finds himself wandering out into the city, mostly because it's impossible to contain his confusion and curiosity. How could you see a huge alien city like this and not want to know more? Or, at least... he thinks it's aliens.

It isn't long before Lion sees how weary he is and starts nudging him with his shoulder, until Steven concedes and crawls up onto his back. Together, they ride straight down into the festival. Steven spends a long time gawking at things, his ukulele slung over his back, his fingers dug deep into Lion's mane as various bewildering emotions run through him. This reminds him of something...

"Wait!" he'll call out to anyone he recognizes from the mirror room. Steven looks like something of incredible importance has just struck him, and also like someone woke him up at 4AM by throwing his bed out the window. That is, he looks strung out.

"Did you see the faeries?"

★THE COVEN: CLINIC

At Nessie's recommendation, Steven ends up going to the clinic to be looked at. He's not been feeling well since he showed up, and while it's not getting worse, it's not really getting better either. He'll lay on one of the beds for a while, with Lion curled up at its foot. Which, in itself, is a bit alarming, given Lion's size and colour.

Feeling restless and uncomfortable, it won't be long until he tries to strike up a conversation with one of the other people there. Are you unfortunate enough to require treatment after arriving? Well, Steven is here to draw attention to it.

"What happened?" he'll ask, glancing you over, taking note of any visible ailments. "Are you okay?"

★THE COVEN: LITTLE BIG SPOON

After the witches can't seem to figure out what's wrong with him, Steven will give up and to get assigned a bed. His pet lion comes with him reluctantly, curling up somewhere in the room, while Steven will get into the bed, muttering vague apologies to whoever he is joining. Luckily for you, Steven is very short, and doesn't take up much bed space.

Less fortunately, he falls asleep quickly, and will end up cuddling up to your back soon after.

Lucas Baker | Resident Evil | OTA

[1019]

I. Arrival. The Looking-Glass House.

[It was as good as one of those shifts. Evie switching on her whatever-the-fuck imposed images. No worse anymore than feeling heart palpitation intermittently - ain't been a potential derailer for a long-ass time now, but there's still that little stab in your chest and cold pouring down your brow offa the you're still at mercy, here reminder when one minute, you're in your good ol' little control room, thinking you see a little schmutz on one of your monitors(???), squinting and leaning in trying to make it out what's gotten smeared on it to make it so bright...!

-- And then, whoom. Falling on into another of sense. Another depth of field and presence. Everything in your system shocking to a good hard-eyed blank as you glance glance glance glance, what NOW, what're you tryin'a pull -- ...!

...Creepin' up a bit strongly from below. She... doesn't usually dream this big, what kinda shitty way to play you got lined up, here, a funhouse...?

When his... slow-rocking pivoting and birdlike shoots of glances up into corners and along walls turns Lucas around a hundred and eighty degrees, though...! -- His eyes pop and pin straight to the top of the mirror there. Brow boosted and tensed to just scrunch.

Heaven knows, to an outsider, what the hell it is he's looking at, though, as he scoffs and bites on a... spiteful-ass sneering grin.

Trickles out over gravel, in a metered, oily drawl:]

Weeeeeell, I didn't know you cared -- ...!

[As he steps over to the mirror. A slow, swingin' saunter before he lowers his stance, begins... feeling at the mirror's edges like he's taking its damn dimensions. Scanning the frame up, down, around, intermittent squints and flashes of upper teeth or tiny, low-lidded mouthed "ooh...!"s.]

III. The Coven.

[Yeah, um. What was that about the brooms and anyone scruffy?

'Cause, well -- ]

GOD!

[Mmmmmyeah. Uh. Certain inconveniences arise in positions such as these when you've been living off the grid out in the swampy wilderness for 'bout three years straight. 'Specially if you've never been, uh. Really one to pay attention to your physical state anyway.

And thus, well. There certainly is a fella stumbling 'round being circled by two brooms - careening and rocking and flailing swats like he's simultaneously being flocked by birds and mobbed by penguins.

He grits and screeches.]

GET --

OFF!!

[They are brooms.

It is very difficult to properly swat an object shaped like a broom.]

IV. Boaltinn. The Western Fires.

['Kay, so.

Even... after that initial briefing - and the fact that, pff, hell, when has he literally ever gotten to go to a real damn party - he... simultaneously gravitated toward the Western Fires off that tug of intrigue and did so with caution.

That caution, however, was... token. A slow approach, stance slouched low, hood up for some feeling of upping that, narrow eyes and tense muscles, hands prepared to fling up. A feel here and there at the knife in his pocket. (Nicked his hand once, but 'ey - no big deal; kinda thing mends itself in minutes.)

It. Became something more of a self-satisfied stray-cat-strutting, however, as he went. Started with a little sneer - pullin' up of half his upper lip and narrowing a glare - at any cagey looks. Someone growls, you growl back. No incident. The sneers bit-by-bit splitting open into grins. Yeaaaaah, you can look all you want...!

You ain't gonna do SHIT 'bout my turning up to party with you, are ya -- ?!

By now? He's... gotten bold enough that he's standing right by the fires. Begun a wander. Stance straightened about as much as it can straighten; half the time leaned all back in prrrrobably excessive ease, a thumb hooked into a pocket.

At some point, flutes a high, airy laugh...!

And -- not terribly hard, but -- distinctly shoulder-bumps a sufficiently human-looking passerby.

Also airy, if... anchored by a coarse little stone in the top of his throat:]

-- What you call THAT one -- ...?

[It couches in his nose as he rounds his eyes, points up in the air - hand floppin' absently on his wrist for a moment before he makes a couple quick thumb-jabs over his shoulder - swingin' a look in the indicated direction to -- you know, check that he's still pointing the right way...!

Namely at... a chimera.

Apparently, either no one ever told him it isn't polite to point or he just doesn't freaking care.]

V. Wildcard!

[Is there any other scenario you'd like to give a whirl, or would you like me to cook up another? Feel free to lay it right on me and/or hit me up at schmendricks to hash things out!]

[fearolc]

[ There's a slow, single blink of her unscarred eye as she looks at him. ]

Where are you from that Monsters do not exist? Even outside of Geargadas, we aren't an uncommon race.

[actuallyadork]

If they are bringing a companion animal, does the animal come through the mirror with them?

[fifty]

The USA. [America fidgets, obviously uneasy. This is a step up from borderline terrified, probably.] I think this is a different world.

[Weird for something like this to happen outside of Christmas, but it's the most reasonable explanation.]

Julian Devorak | The Arcana

[rowdyraven]

The Coven - or, just outside the Coven.

[The past hour or so has passed him by in a nonsensical haze. His arrival with the others in the strange mirrored building, 'Miss Nessie' and her lupine companion, the clamour of questions and confusion and explanations that don't touch the sides, and throughout it all he's remained - for the most part - uncharacteristically quiet. Posed a polite-spoken question here or there amidst a veil of apparent calm, listened as best he could to the influx of inadequate information that they're given.

He doesn't remain in the Coven, sleep so far away from his mind that he knows no rest will find him. The brooms make him uneasy, the name of the place itself, and as soon as the doors are opened he's stepping out into the cool night air and taking a deep in-drawn breath that does nothing - nothing - to settle him.

And once out here, he doesn't immediately set out to explore. Casts his gaze towards the sky, to the sprinkling of stars, sees nothing that he recognises and feels the sickening lurch from stomach to throat one experiences the moment before a fall. That deep twist of dread that has been with him since the precise moment he'd found himself in that room full of mirrors twists in deeper, harder, sharper, and finally he begins to pace.

Anyone who gets close enough should be able to hear him muttering to himself.]

Magic. Of course it has to be magic. Weird creepy magic with brooms moving about of their own volition, and strange other realms. Couldn't just be some ordinary, logical kind of trouble, could it?

Boaltinn

Eastern Bonfire

[The night winds later still, and Julian seems to have significantly changed his tune. Because if one must be stuck in some strange, magical realm, then it may as well be one thrown into the midst of a wild, exotic festival. He's been drinking, heavily, and there's a lit up and wide-open feeling in him, a bright reckless abandon he knows right down to the centre of himself, only made bigger somehow, all the wilder for it.

Of course, he fully intends to jump the flames. As for the rune-carved accessories however, even inebriated and exuberant as he is, he has other thoughts about those. Perhaps you're waiting your turn too, or you just happen to be standing near enough when he makes a flourishing, dismissive gesture, tries to push the offered accessories away, shaking his head quite effusively.]

Oh, nonsense, I don't need any of those. Where's the fun if there's no danger, eh? I'll make the jump without them, just you watch! Stand back and ah, perhaps hold my coat.

Rose baths

[Happy and drunk and expansive, he comes across the baths, and quite naturally he'll take the opportunity to indulge. It sparks something in him, the bright memory of home, of Nevivon and the salt baths there. On a night like this, where everything is heady and strange, a touch of the familiar is infinitely welcome even in his inebriated state. He has stripped out of his clothes and sunk himself into the pleasant-smelling water with a satisfied sigh, and without the vaguest prompting.

If he spots anyone lingering on the sidelines, he'll call out to them with the damp wave of a hand. And yes, he is still wearing the eyepatch.]

Fancy a dip? Come on in, the water's fine.

Wildcard
[You do you! Have an idea you want to run by me first? Shoot me a PM or hit me up at kamaitachiyoukai]

[starseedling]

He agrees regarding the clinic. He'll head over there once they're done talking.

He'll try to explain that usually he can dreamwalk, and heal, and a bunch of other things - maybe their magic is different somehow? He thought that the faerie thing was some kind of dream initially - but now that he's been physically translocated, it seems like it must be important. He knows this sounds weird, but he's never seen a place like this before, and he doesn't think the others have either. The mirrors might have brought them here from way further away than they're thinking.

He apologizes if this sounds weird to her, but does she know what planet this is? He thinks he's from a different one. His home planet doesn't have two moons, for instance.

souji seta ★ persona 4 ★ota

[socials]

I. arrival

[ It really says something about the past year that Souji is used to stumbling like this. His hand passes through his reflection, then the rest of him follows, and the familiar sensation of falling through an unknown portal is immediate. He corrects his balance, a practiced movement, sudden, surprised, just to keep himself from falling on his face.

However, the setting is certainly different. His duffle falls to the floor next to him as it slides off his shoulder while he looks at everything, already on alert. There's no sign of his friends, his uncle, his cousin - but there are other people.

Souji regards the mirror he came out of - and that's where he sees familiar faces, confusion evident in his expression but otherwise keeping his calm - before he looks back at the others around him. Some seem to land with an instinct similar to his, but others wind up landing hard, or look a little worse for wear.

Those are the people he approaches outright, leaving his bag behind and taking a knee to help them. ] Hey, easy does it. Are you okay?

[ Please don't take his bag while he's doing this. ]

III. coven arrangements

[ The walk from the Looking-Glass House to the Coven is an... interesting one. Souji's not sure what to make of this situation, because for as much as he's used to peculiar things, this sort of takes the cake.

He can't feel any of his Personae. Everything is a little skewed, and there are monstrous looking people coming and going alongside the more normal people. Like it's an everyday occurrence. But he cautiously follows the welcoming party, and only startles a little when accosted by the brooms at the doorway. The watches are just as odd, but he accepts it, and starts to input his name when he hears the apparent head witch - Witch? - speak about lodgings.

And he blinks once, slowly.

As people begin to try and figure out how this is going to work out, and they're shuffled off, Souji comments: ] Looks like it's going to be a little cramped. I've slept in... definitely more uncomfortable situations, so if someone wants to take a bed, I can definitely take the floor.

IV. boaltinn

a.

[ Surveying the bonfire, hand at his chin, Souji seems to be deeply considering it. He's been to festivals before, but certainly nothing like this. It leaves him curious, and the thrill-seeking part of him is deeply interested in trying it out. He accepts a rune-etched bracelet, turning it over in his fingers, first, before he does anything else.

It makes him chuckle a little, thinking of the accessories that were finely crafted for them by Daidara. He'd probably give this to Chie, he thinks.

But he slides it on eventually, making sure it's secure. ]

I might need a little encouragement to do it. [ His tone is obviously joking. But he rolls his shoulders a little, stretching his arms above his head, getting himself ready for the jump. ] Has anyone fallen into the fires yet?

[ One of the nearby natives laughs, recounting how a cocksure teen had taken the leap, only for her to fall bottom first into the flames. Souji... doesn't think it's as funny as they do, although he does smile politely. Even with the protection of the charms, that must be a terrifying thing to have happen. ]

b.

[ Considering all of the food that's being given away, free of charge and with a stipulation that hardly bothers Souji, he's... partaking in quite a bit of it. After taking on the Rainy Day Special, he's ready to face just about anything at this point.

Any time he has food, regardless of the variety of it, he's more than happy to share it with others. Those that are nearby will be approached, expression polite, friendly, and open. ] I've got enough to share, here. I haven't tried this one just yet, but, maybe you'd like to try it with me?

[ Despite the strangeness of the situation, Souji is taking to it like a duck to water. There isn't any reason for him to panic, really, though he's definitely ignoring the sort of vacant feeling that comes from not being able to call upon his Personae. Forging new bonds (how appropriate a term for it) with the people here is a decent enough distraction from his inability to shake it off. ]

c.

[ After everything that's happened, back in Inaba, well - having a little impulsive compulsion to do something like test out magic on a night where it's frowned upon isn't particularly shocking.

Souji has already faced recklessness for the night, feeling that deepset interest in the bonfire festivities and burning off those negative feelings and relationships. But he also hasn't been able to shake off that feeling of something being missing. The memories of his dream, dim and fuzzy as they were originally, lead to him trying to figure out this magic thing.

So he can be found sitting off to the side, flexing his fingers and regarding them thoughtfully. Perhaps if he treats it like summoning Izanagi, of summoning any of his Personae...

He holds his hand a little higher, trying to focus on it. Just a feeling. Anything.

And then he flexes his hand into a fist, reminiscent of when he crushes the cards of his Arcana.

There's a fizzle, then a crackle of electric static, then nothing. ]

... huh. [ Well, progress, he guesses! ]

0. wildcard

[ Want to do a quest? Interested in exploring the city in more detail? Me, too! Hit me up here, on my OOC intro, or at folklores / folklorist#9385! ]

IC - I'd apologize but a hoonter must hoont

[whomthebelltolls]

[Yes, she has some questions, and she steps out forward of the crowd, heavy boots thunking on the wood. Her pale eyes are fixed pretty firmly on Mhairi and don't seem to stray much; it's not a friendly gaze, but while wary, she also seems rather curious. Beasts where she comes from don't retain much of their faculties after a while.

It's easy to spot Maria, at least, as she steps out of the crowd - she's taller than almost all the other women and probably most of the men, as well, which means the werewolf's size doesn't intimidate her. She takes up position somewhere between the two crowds, as much as possible, as though to protect the ones on her side.

Even though she feels awful, and has to concentrate very hard on just keeping her feet moving, and the earth beneath them, she's ready to stand her ground in a fight, it seems.]

And the Beasts? They behave here? You all just... live together?

[A+ start.]

[starseedling]

If you take a picture of your mirror (Steven is gunna do this with his phone camera while he still has battery) does the image reflect its drab appearance or its special appearance when he looks at the image?

More or less, does whatever magic is happening there effect the image data?